Reverse Electrodialysis: A multipurpose tool serving the circular economy

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Whenever a gradient exists, the tendency to reach equilibrium creates a potential energy that can be converted into power. Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) is an electro-membrane process that harnesses the energy gradient between two solutions with differing salinity to generate an ordered flux of ions participating in redox reactions on the electrodes' surface with sufficient intensity to produce a useful electric output. Despite being widely studied and described, the RED process is still regarded as an emerging technology, not because of technical challenges in its application, but primarily because of obstacles to becoming a viable commercial product. Many hurdles relate to the costs and amount of energy produced, which have been found to be less competitive than existing solutions. In this review, infrastructure and cost-sharing within a circular economy framework, in which highly saline natural bitterns, or industrial brines, are utilised or explored, are seen as the preferred path for RED exploitation. Potential strategies for integration into existing industrial scenarios are discussed to identify a commercialisation pathway that can ultimately bring RED to market.